Daizen Maeda's stunning Celtic form down to one thing as Japan urged to use weapon that 'can't be stopped'
Daizen Maeda has won round the doubters at Parkhead. Now he's doing the same in his homeland.
The Celtic forward scored his 28th goal of the season against Hibs in the Scottish Cup, having previously only netted a season high of 11 during his time in Glasgow. And that's now earned Maeda major praise back home in Japan, where the 27-year-old is being tipped to be his nation's secret weapon - by a man who had questioned his top flight credentials.
Speaking to Football Zone, former Japan forward Yoichiro Kakitani admits he didn't think Maeda would make it in the J League - but now sees him as being vital to the national team's success moving forward, and says he brings something no other player on the planet can match. Kakitani said: "I have been watching him since his time on loan at Mito (Holyhock), and Matsumoto (Yamaga) and then (Yokohama F.) Marinos, I thought he was a player who would not be able to fit in the J League.
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"At Mito and Matsumoto, he seemed to be inconsiderate of the players around him, but he has grown mentally and now understands how to play in a way that brings out the various characteristics of himself. He knows what only he can do. His mind has been sorted out.
"It's a waste to just be obsessed with scoring goals. He's better at defence than offence, and he can steal the ball all by himself. Anyone can make a run after stealing it, but no one else can do that at top speed, even at the world level.
“He doesn't have exceptional technique, but he has explosive ability. For example, a positional error doesn't seem like a positional error to him.
“He can get in front of the goal no matter where he is. He's able to organise the number of times and the timing, which is why he scores."
Japan face a selection headache ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain and Saudi Arabia later this month, with Feyernoord's Ayase Ueda and NEC's Koki Ogawa only just returning from injury. And Kakitani, who netted five goals in 18 caps for his country, is urging boss Hajime Moriyasu to take full advantage of having an in-form Maeda at his disposal by playing him in a deeper role.
He continued: "Of course, it's the coach who decides, but personally, I think it's more fun to play as a second striker. There's more space, and a run through would be offside. If he bursts out from the second or third row, he can't be stopped.
"We know that in order for the national team to get stronger in the future and to make it to the top eight in the World Cup, we can't do things the same way as before. But up until now we haven't had a player who overwhelmed overseas players with his ability.
"In the end, it's about individual breakthroughs, so Mitoma and Kubo's techniques may thrive on their skills, but I think it would be interesting if Maeda competed not tactically but on his wild, instinctive side. We have to use this weapon (Maeda).”
